Last year he won the event on his debut, beating Gael Monfils, Roger Federer and David Ferrer.

The championship features strong line-up with six of the top nine ranked players in the world taking part. Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, Tomas Berdych and Janko Tipsarevic will contend for the title at the Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex at Zayed Sports City (December 27-29).

Novak will then team up with Ana Ivanovic to represent Serbia at the 2013 Hyundai Hopman Cup, a traditional warm-up competition leading into the Australian Open.

The 25-year-old will be making his fourth appearance at the international mixed team event, to be staged at the new Perth Arena from December 29, 2012 to January 5, 2013.

The first Grand Slam of the season – the Australian Open, begins on Monday, January 14, at Melbourne Park.

Novak is a defending champion. He defeated Rafael Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 in one of the most epic Grand Slam finals in tennis history. It was the longest men’s Grand Slam final and the longest-ever match at the Australian Open (5 hours and 53 minutes).